I've been knitting and crocheting...

Still waiting for our little princess to make her appearance.  Yesterday was D-Day but she is still feeling happy and comfortable inside Mummy....

Nanny has been doing some knitting and crocheting.  I've been making little Hugg Boots and I did a little cardigan and tonight I crocheted a little hat for her.

Pinterest has been my friend with lots of lovely free knitting and crochet patterns.  This little jumper is knitted all in one piece - the sleeves as part of it as well.  And the little hat was so easy, it only took and hour or so to make. I've done the Ugg booties in pinks, and multicoloured pinks as well.

So we are all set for her arrival.   Tonight my son said it was like Christmas... but it kept moving... he is super excited to becoming a Dad. 

Versatile Vases

It's my day to share at Die Cut Divas again... Our sponsor is the amazing Altenew

if you have been a follower of mine for anytime, you will know that I adore Altenew stamps,dies, inks, stencils etc. so I'm super happy that they are our sponsor this month. 

I recently got the Versatile Vases stamp and stencil set.   I knew it would be perfect for our theme this month  "water"

I started by stamping, masking, and some ink blending on my vase and the flower from Fresh Freesia set.  My original idea was to have the vase on a single layer but of course, a spludge of colour happened.  So change of plans... after colouring with a mixture of watercolour markers, Alcohol markers and Prismacolor pencils, I fussy cut the image and added to an embossed background.   I used Evening Grey ink to stamp the images and the sentiment and a brick folder from Sizzix. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  No baby yet!  Today is due day but I'm betting that maybe Thurs or Friday. 

April CCC...

The card I made for this months CCC has arrived to it's recipient -  Denise in California.

I chose to use the sketch and the colours this month

   
 My card base is actually cream but hard to see in the photo.  And the stripes that look bluish are a dark grey.  I used an Altenew stamp set called Beautiful Day for the flower and leaves stamped with the grey inks and the sentiment is from another Altenew set.

thanks for stopping by today.  I'm away for the weekend and didn't take my cardmaking stuff - took my knitting as I needed to finish the little cardigan I am knitting for the new Granddaughter and she is due tomorrow ( but the signs are she'll be a bit later coming along)  I got it finished plus some booties to go with it.   And I started a cuddle bunny for one of the girls at work who is pregnant.  We have two of them in our work area, so I have two to knit.  Luckily they are nice and quick and easy to do. 

Sunrise over the Sea

Hi.  It's my day to shine at Die Cut Divas. 
Our theme this month is Water and our fabulous Sponsor is

Altenew is one of my favourite companies at the moment.  They have a lot of beautiful floral stamps and all sorts of other stamps, dies and stencils.  For my card today I'm using a stamp set called "Be A Lighthouse"  I was inspired by a tutorial I saw over at Splitcoaststampers about making a sunrise scene. 

I started with some Sapphire ink to stamp the water several times, slightly moving each time.  I used my blender brushes to add some colour with the same ink.  I then masked it off, die cut a circle to use as a mask as well, and then used a variety of Altenew inks (Honey Drizzle, Autumn Blaze, Heart Beat, Vineyard Berry and Cosmic Berry) to blend onto the watercolour card.  Once I removed the mask, I lightly sponged the Yellow ink over the sun.  I added the lighthouse, and the gulls.  Finished with a sentiment from the same set.  I use a die to cut it out, and then used a couple of the larger dies to emboss around the panel for some texture. 

Due to a the big transformation/system upgrade at the NZ Inland Revenue Department (where I work) is closed down from last Thurs and not reopening till Friday 26th so I've had a few days off.  Lots of fun crafting time. 

WWC218 - Marsha's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Welcome to today's  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Marsha is our hostess this week with an "All About Occasions" challenge.

 Today I have done an ANZAC Day project.  ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in the Great War (1914–1918).

I started with a very light cream card onto which I used my computer to print out the poem.  I then blended some Altenew inks - Sweet Leaf for the sponging and Hunter Green for the splatters.  I used a Hero Arts stamp set called "Color layering Poppies" to stamp the two poppies (using Altenew, Coral Bliss, Heart Beat and Vineyard Berry).  I die cut them with the matching dies.  I then worked out where I wanted them and using the stems and buds directly only to card base.   Then added the die cut poppies.   I popped in the frame I got for $4 at Kmart.  I am very pleased with the results.


Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 1pm NZ time) to link up your project.

Altenew Academy - Progressive Cardmaking Day 2

Warning - long post today...

I'm off work for a few more days after Easter.  We get Monday as a Public Holiday and then again we have Thursday off as it's ANZAC Day.  As my work (Inland Revenue) is going through a major systems upgrade over this time, there is hardly anyone in... most of us taking the opportunity to take a few extra days leave.  Friday is D-Day so I'll be back at work - I'm a Key User - we are the help for our colleagues for the new system, so it will be full on for a while.  I'm enjoying the break as it means that I get onto the Altenew class as soon as it arrives in my inbox  (4.00pm NZ time)
So on to Day 2 from Justine's class.  Yesterday I drove into the class which is all about stencils.   Now I have to tell you that I don't have many Altenew stencils... actually only 4 - two of which are a layering set... so I had to pull out some other stencils.  All are coloured with Altenew inks and the sentiments are all Altenew so hope that counts.  It's all about trying out the techniques, I'm sure.

Beginner:

For the beginner, Justine showed us some simple stenciling... I chose a Ultimate Crafts stencil called Rolling Mesh.  I went for a bit of an ombre look using Blush, Rouge, Crimson and Velvet inks blended with my brushes.  To finish a sentiment from Amazing You and a few random dots of gold glitter pen.  (Hard to see in the pic but lovely in real life)

Intermediate:

Justine used a lovely layered flower for her sample.  This Layering Medallion is the only layering set I have.  I chose to use Mountain Mist and Volcano Lake to blend the ink together.  It really gives an interesting background.  I mounted it onto some teal card and then used a hello die which I cut from the teal and a dark green card.  The sentiment is from Versatile Vases.

Advanced:

Justine's advanced card used a two layered flower stencils and she used some paste to add the second layer.  Nothing like this in my stash, so I improvised.  I took the Classy Stripe stencil and used two colours of cream inks... Hazelnut and Almond Butter to swipe through the stencil in random spots.  Then I did the same random swipes with Versamark ink and used a Platinum embossing powder to add the gold bits.  I grabbed a flower and some leaves that have been sitting in my "will use someday" bowl and added to the background.  I used the Platinum EP to embossed the sentiment from Adore You set onto some shimmery cream card.

Then this morning I decided to try the advanced technique - this time adding pencils to an ink blended stenciled background.  It's not completely finished yet..

I used a Penny Black stencil with the Altenew inks - Coral Bliss, Hydrangea,  Green Fields and Firefly.  Once I had finished the stenciling, I gently blended some of the Coral Bliss and Firefly over the entire roses and leaves to give a glow.  I then used a Coral and Green Prismacolor pencil to add some detailing.  Add the Nuvo white drops.  Once they dry I'll add a sentiment and mount onto a base card.

Thanks for stopping by today, I do appreciate if you've made it to the end.  It's photo heavy today!
Now I'm off to do Day 3 - Masking.  I've watched the video and my mind is churning with ideas. 

Have a great day

Atlenew Acadmey - Progressive Cardmaking - Day 1

I am taking the latest Altenew Academy class - Progressive Cardmaking with Justine Hovey as the tutor... Day one was all about Stamping with techniques for beginner, intermediate and advanced.

Justine is an excellent tutor and her cards were delightful.

Here is my homework....

Beginner - Justine shows us how to draw a diagonal line through the card and then using the MISTI putting stamps on one side, stamping and turning around and stamp the other side....

  I didn't have the stamps Justine used, but found this set "Adore Me" worked for me.  Once I had done the stamping it looked a bit bare, so used the smaller stamps from the set to fill in some of the spaces.  I then added the sentiment. 

Intermediate.

Justine used the new stamp set called "A Study in Watercolor" - a silhouette stamp set, but again, it's not one I own.  I looked through my Altenew sets and decided the base layer of the leaves in "Beautiful Day" stamp set would suffice.

I used some Mountain Mist and Volcano Lake inks to stamp the leaves.  One layer light and then the second layer slightly off-set in the darker colour.  Really love the look I achieved here.   Added the sentiment over the leaves and then added pale gold and white Nuvo drop. 

Advanced

For the advanced stamping Justine did some masking and watercolouring with Altenew watercolor makers.   She used "Wallpaper Art" stamp set.  This has lovely flower outlines.   I don't have this one either (me thinks an Altenew order needs to be made!)  I chose once again to try out the technique using the "Adore Me" set. 

I started by stamping and embossing the first flower, masked it and then stamped and embossed the other flowers.  With all the masks still in place, I used Altenew Caribbean Shores ink to blend around the flowers.  I used Altenew pan watercolours to add colour to the flowers.  When I had finished, my flowers look out of scale on the card... too little so made the card a 4-bar card (3.5" x 5")  now it look more to scale.   

Totally enjoyed the Day 1 and am excited to see what Day 2 brings - it's about using stencils.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Happy Easter... every day is a gift

It's Good Friday today and I got a bit of time to play in my craft room.  A couple of cards done... am now well ahead with my DT samples.  This afternoon I pulled out an alcohol background I had done on some photo paper.  It was a bit more vibrant than usual so decided to trim it down a bit for just a smaller focal panel.

I layered the panel onto a maroon card and then onto a cream base.  I die cut the Memory Box Bella Bouquet from the cream card and added to the card.  I used Altenew Rose Gold embossing powder to add the sentiment.   Like how the maroon card really showed off the panel.

Today was a really nice day, the sun was shining and it was warm.  Hubby went over to our son's place to help him remove some trees and plant some new fruit trees... 4 Feijoas.  I made some veggie soup and took it around for lunch.  Erin is only 10 days away from due date... so I thought I'd take this around so she didn't have to prepare lunch for the boys.  

Happy Easter to you all. 

Autumn/Fall at Southern Girls.

Hi there.  Back again for my Southern Girls challenge.  It's coming into Autumn/Fall here in NZ and that's our theme this time around.    Our sponsors are

I'm using an image from Lacy Sunshine called "Bubbles Autumn,

I printed out the image after using Word to resize and add a frame around it.  I used my Prismacolour pencils to add colour.  I made my own background paper by using a Catherine Pooler stencil (Marching Leaves)  over a pale green card.  I used Rocky Shore and Olive inks from Altenew.  I cut a heart doily in half to put behind the focal image.  I then stamped and clear embossed the Autumn sentiment from "The Big Bold Seasons" from Winnie & Walter onto some vellum and fussy cut around it.

Do come and join us at Southern Girls Challenge with your Autumn/Fall creations

WWC#217 Michelle's Masculine "Anything Goes" challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Michelle  is our hostess this week with an "anything goes" masculine challenge

My card today is for a young man's 21st birthday.

I decided that a bit of a grungy card would suit.  So I hunted out some very old Hero Arts stamps called Brush Strokes and a Just Your Next Stamp  stamp - Large Splatter.  I added some washi and stamped the splatter stamp with Versafine Onyx Black and clear embossed.  I then stamped the Brush stokes stamps in some Altenew Silver Stone ink.  I matted this onto dark blue card and then onto a olive green card base.  I die cut the numbers out of the green and blue card and offset layered.  I decided a needed a little sentiment so used the one from Altenew Sohcahtoa set.

Come join in the fun and make a masculine card.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 1pm NZ time) to link up your project.

Happy Easter to you all...

Sunday stamping

Hi there.  I've had a really busy crafty Sunday... getting myself ahead with my DT challenges.   So lots done, but nothing to share!    So I was tidying up and saw Tristan's blog post (Here)  She had a fun filled Sunday with lots of cards for lots of challenges.  I was intrigued with the Less is More Challenge which was to use Subtle Colors...

 

I had a little time before I needed to start the dinner and hubby and son were watching car racing, so I thought I'd have some fun and make a card just for the fun of it.

I chose a stamp set from Catherine Pooler Designs called "Best in You".  I lined up the sentiment into my MISTI to get an idea of where to stamp my flowers and then used my stamp block to add the flowers.  I used some Altenew inks: Pink Diamond/Pinkalicous, Sea Breeze/Turquoise, Soft Lilac/Lavender Fields and Bamboo for the leaves.  Plus some little dots in Espresso ink.    I then stamped the sentiment over the top in Versafine Onyx Black.

Thanks for stopping by today.   Hope you got to do some crafting this weekend.  

Christmas Kickstart - Frosty and Friends

Jo's latest theme over at Christmas Kickstart is "Frosty and Friends" -all about Snowmen

 

I had popped over to Digi Doodle Studio the other day to purchase an Easter digi I had seen and while I was there picked up "Joe Frost Snowman" with this challenge in mind....

I printed him onto some light cream card and used some Copics, Spectrum Noir and Altenew alcohol markers to colour him in.  I used Altenew Arctic ink to sponge behind him.  (just love my smallest makeup blending brush for getting around close to the image)  For my snow I smeared some clear Nuvo drops and sprinkled some SU Diamond Dust glitter on it   A few dots with a Gel pen and a Hero Arts sentiment and my panel was done.  I trimmed it, and then matted with some pretty Patterned paper from Meg's Garden, adding it to a cream card base (4 3/4" x 6" - just a little bigger than normal - trimmed down a 6x6 card base)

Thanks to Jo and her challenge, my stash of Christmas cards is growing.  

It's Saturday afternoon and all the house work is done, so time for some more crafting .... there are 5 family and friend's birthdays in May.... so busy time ahead.  

Thanks for stopping by.

WWC216 Dawn's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I'm the hostess this week with an "All about Occasions" challenge.

For me April is the birthday month for my Grandson.  He's going to be 3 this year on 20th April...and if my new grandbaby comes on time, she'll be an April baby too... due 29th.

Anyway as I have to get Archie's card off in plenty of time to get to him in time... I've made his card and am sharing it today.

There's a little story behind this card.  For his birthday his Pop and I are getting him a Trunki (a cute as little suitcase) and his mum showed him the different ones and he chose this one

So I decided that a bumble bee card would be cool.  I searched the internet to find a bumble bee digi stamp and found this cutie at Dollar Graphic Depot.   I printed it out together with the 3 and the sentiment.  I used my Scan'n'Cut to cut out the number and the little bee.  To make my background I used a Hexagon Cover Die (not sure of the make) to make a stencil.  I used two Altenew inks - Vanilla Cream and Lemon Fresh with my Picket Fence brushes to blend through the handmade stencil.  I added dimension to the bee, the number and the sentiment.  

 

A simple but fun card.  Come join in the fun and make a card for your choice of occasion. Check out the projects that the other artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created, then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.   You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 1pm NZ time) to link up your project.

 

Thanks for stopping by today. 

  

Crafting Sunday

I got to spend some time in the craft room this afternoon.  I wanted to join a few challenges so got out some stamps and went to it...

First off, I saw the challenge at Just Us Girls - Word of the week "Houses"

I chose a bird house that as a freebie back in 2015.  It is a Crafter's Companion set that was in collaboration with Quick Cards.

I stamped the image onto some super smooth cream cardstock and used Zig Real Brush markers and some water to colour the image.  The sentiment was in the same set.  I matted it onto some darker cream card then onto a base.

My next two cards are both going into the Delectable Die-cuts challenge at Christmas Kickstart Challenge. 

First up is this CAS card.  I started by embossing the background with a holly folder.  The die cut is a two part one that came with a magazine, that my newsagent was selling for $4.  It was the embossing folder and the die plus another twig die.  I used some vellum to cut the layering part and the maroon card for the inner part.  Added some Nuvo drops to finish.

Next one used a sleigh die, again a set that came with a magazine.  It had a little embossing folder, a die and the stamp set.

I started by using some Altenew Sea Glass ink to sponge on the top part of the card before embossing the little strip at the top.  I left the bottom part of the card plain to be the snow.  I cut the sleigh die twice, once in a rose gold foil card and once in red.  I trimmed the red piece and layered it on top of the gold part.  I added the sentiment in black ink and the reindeer in Altenew Espresso ink  I stamped and coloured Santa and his bag of presents and fussy cut them.  Added some Stickles for snow.  Mounted onto some red card and then a white base.

You can see my background for my photos...it's a new backdrop I made today... I made two day

I got some book covering vinyl and two 12 x 12 cake boards that were about 1/8".  I added the vinyl to both sides of the boards... one colour on each side so I could get both the bottom and back.

Thanks for stopping by. Your visits are appreciated.

AECP - Beautiful Details...

Well my good intentions to get my level 2 accreditation done quickly this year have fallen by the wayside!  Life and other obligations seem to have side-tracked me.   I recently purchased some Altenew Academy classes which prompted me to review some of my older classes and get another class project done for the AECP.  I chose to review the "Beautiful Details" class lead by Marika Rahtu.  Marika is a beautiful colourist and her class was enlightening.  I learnt alot about different ways to use your stamps and colouring mediums.

I chose to CASE Marika's day two card.  The emphasis on this day was about detailed leaves.... She used Zig Markers to stamp and add detailing to the leaves from the "Beautiful Day" stamp set.   I took the outline leaves stamp and used a Gray marker to "paint" onto the stamp and add to some watercolour paper.  Next was using two other gray makers (Light Gray and Blue Gray) with a little water to add the detail.

The best tip from Marika was to ensure you worked in layers... and let the layers dry in between each one.  I really enjoyed doing this and love the darker blue gray layer.  It really popped.  These colours were quite different to the ones Marika used.

For my base card, I chose to use blues for my sponging

I used two different blues - Altenew Caribbean Sky and Persian Blue to sponge the card with a bit of an ombre look with more colour in the lower left hand side of the card.  I also added some splatter ith the Persian Blue ink.  I liked the blue as it tied nicely with the Blue Grey in the leaves.  I chose to use a sentiment from "More than Words" set at the top of the card, and like Marika noted, added a stripe of some bright blue card at the bottom to balance the card.   In order to have the focus on the detailed leaves I left the flower uncoloured.   Some blue and clear sequins finished the card.

Although I CASE's Marika's card, I feel that I added my own touch with my colour choices.  I will be using this idea again as it really produces an elegant card. 

Here's one last view of my card.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope your weekend is going to be crafty.  I'm enjoying my Saturdays as Rugby season has started and hubby heads out to watch the Senior team from his club play, giving me the afternoon to myself!

Frame it at Southern Girls.

There's a new challenge at Southern Girls Challenge Blog today. It's not my team's turn to share this week but I'm guesting for Team Lou this week.  Our sponsors this time round are Dark Room Door and Altenew...  Two fabulous companies.

My card today is using a cool sentiment from Darkroom Door - called "Playing"

I've paired it with a cool stamp from Art Impressions called "Got Style"  I've frame the card by layering it onto gray card, white card and then onto a brown base card.    Isn't that sentiment just a perfect compliment to the stamped image.

And as the team is a bit short this week, I also did a card using a Watercolour Frame from Altenew.

I also used a freebie Altenew rose stamp and die set. 


Do come and join us at Southern Girls Challenge

WWC215 -Donna's Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge.

Back again for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Donna is our hostess this week with an "anything goes " feminine challenge.

My card today was inspired by my friend Greta.   She made a stunning card - adapting a technique from a My Favourite Things video.  I took it up another level with my card.

I started by stamping and embossing the Darling Lily stamp (Altenew).  Next I used Rustic Linen (Altenew) and added Catherine Pooler inks in All that Jazz, Lime Rickey, Sauna, Tiki Torch and Rockin' Red.  Once I stamped, it look a bit sparse so I added the extra step and used my blending brush to add the same colours onto my card.  I used a die to trim the panel, but it was a shade short, so added a stripe of washi to some white card and trimmed it to fit at the bottom of the card.  I die cut a "hello" (Catherine Pooler Designs) and added it to the top of the card.  The little you sentiment is part of a stamp in Altenew's Sweetest Peas set.  I masked off the Thank part and stamped just the You.   Happy with my very colourful results.

Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 1pm NZ time) to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

March CCC- A happy accident or two.

I was a bit late sending off my March Card Chain Challenge to Jo in England, so not sure if she has it yet... if not Jo...don't look!

If  you are unfamiliar with the Card Chain Challenge, it a card swap.  Each month you participate you get to send a card to someone and get a card from someone else.  Win win for everyone.  There are generally several options available.... a colour challenge, a sketch challenge or different themes or techniques.

For March, as I had completed forgotten that I needed to do a card, I chose to the easy theme of Friendship.

So my happy accident #1 was that when I stamped and embossed the flowers from Altenew's "Sweetest Peas" stamp, I grabbed what I thought was the white embossing powder but was in fact the clear powder.     I had stamped onto some Bockingford 200gms cold press watercolour paper as I was using my Altenew watercolour pans to colour the flowers.  I used purples and blues for the flowers.   My second happy accident was the dotty bits you can see.  I has a touch too much paint and water on one of my flowers and I grabbed a microfibre cloth to sop it up and it left the dots from the cloth.  I liked the texture it created, so did a few more touches with the cloth.

You can see the texture here and also the splatters of paint I added.   I finished with a sentiment from same stamp set and some washi tape at the top and bottom of the panel.

If you want to see the full reveal of all the cards made, - pop over to The Card Chain Challenge blog page and check out the goodness. 

I've joined in for April CCC so I am going to make sure I get myself more organised and get my card made earlier.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Water, water, water....

Hi.  It's the first of the month and a new challenge over at Die Cut Divas.  This month our challenge is Water...(rain, lakes, ocean, streams, rivers, dark clouds full of water, glass of water, tears, just have some sort of water on the card.  And our wonderful sponsor for the month is one of my all time favourite companies. 

Hop over to our blog to find out a bit more about Altenew.  And they have kindly sponsored a prize gift card of $20.

As I've said I adore Altenew stamps and have A LOT!  For my card today, I've gone with a die cut flower -

Where's my water you ask?  Well, I add some clear Nuvo drops to look like rain drops on my rose.   Do you like how I've put my sentiment on an slight angle... Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
The rose is one that came free with a magazine.  I die cut it and the leaves from a light weight card stock and then used some Altenew inks to blend on them using my Picket Fence brushes.  The sentiment is a die cut from Catherine Pooler Designs - by CAS-ual Fridays for one of the earlier Stamp of Approval boxes.  The base is a lovely dark gray card and the Patterned Paper is from My Mind's Eye Black and Gray paper pack.  I edged the panel with some silver peelcraft sticker edging.

Do come and play along with us with your "water" related creations.